Page 26 of Back in the Saddle

“Have you talked to anyone about this?” I whispered to his shoulder.

“I just talked to you,” he whispered into the top of my hair.

I closed my eyes.

Because he and I were surrounded by good, kind people.

And we were still alone.

I tipped my head back.

He lifted his when I did and looked deep in my eyes.

I was still whispering when I said, “Thanks for saving my No-Fucks-to-Giving.”

His eyes got lazy. I felt that lazy in my belly and regions south, and he replied, “Thanks for sharing your No-Fucks-to-Giving with me.”

I stood there, holding him, gazing into his eyes.

He stood there, holding me, gazing into mine.

Without warning, it seemed his body relaxed, or mine just melted into it. One of his hands glided up my spine, and it felt so nice, I started rolling up on my toes just as his head started to descend.

And we both jolted when my door crashed open.

For a split second, his arms tightened around me.

And then I was shoved behind his back.

“What the…?”

Hearing Harlow’s voice, I peered around Eric’s body and saw Harlow, Luna and Raye all standing in my living room, gawping at us.

I might have been wrong, but it seemed like Eric was just about to kiss me.

Therefore, my “Knock much?” was pure acid.

“I…you…uh…we…you see…” Harlow stammered, blinking rapidly, but that was it. She didn’t finish a thought.

Luna, as ever, was less unsure of herself.

She planted her hands on her hips and demanded, “What’s going on here?”

Raye stepped between them and Eric and me, held a hand up to Luna and said, “No.” She turned to me. “Priorities. Excuse me, Jessica Wylde, butyour brother is missing?”

Well, shit.

Damn you, Clarice.

She didn’t even give me a day.

Even a holiday!

“I—” I didn’t quite begin.

Because Luna stepped up next to Raye and said, “Yeah. We know. Andhelllllooooo? We found fourteen missing women just two months ago.”

Harlow stepped next to Luna. “Yeah,” she spat. “Helllllloooo.”

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